used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
at or in the front
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
balancedadjectiveUS /ˈbælənst/
being in a state of proper equilibrium
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
broomnounUS /bruːm/
a cleaning implement for sweeping; bundle of straws or twigs attached to a long handle
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
plural of “building” — a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
placed crosswise
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
curbnounUS /kɜːrb/
an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
make void or empty of contents
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
apart from; not including
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
fatiguedadjectiveUS /fəˈtiːɡd/
drained of energy or effectiveness; extremely tired; completely exhausted
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
gutternounUS /ˈɡʌtər/
a channel along the eaves or on the roof; collects and carries away rainwater
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
heraldedadjectiveUS /ˈherəldɪd/
publicly announced
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
indecisionnounUS /ˌɪndɪˈsɪʒən/
doubt concerning two or more possible alternatives or courses of action
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
intersectionnounUS /ˌɪntərˈsekʃən/
a point where lines intersect
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
of comparatively little physical weight or density
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
loneadjectiveUS /loʊn/
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
MobileadjectiveUS /ˈmoʊbəl/
migratory
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
in motion
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
night-long
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
compacted by ironing
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
sidewalksnounUS /ˈsaɪdwɔːks/
plural of “sidewalk” — walk consisting of a paved area for pedestrians; usually beside a street or roadway
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
SweepernounUS /ˈswiːpər/
an employee who sweeps (floors or streets etc.)
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The new buildings pressed against the new sidewalks.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
turret-like
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
vigilnounUS /ˈvɪdʒəl/
a period of sleeplessness
From this reading A lone car crossed at an intersection ahead, moving slowly as if fatigued by a night-long vigil.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
belonging to which person
From this reading The streets were empty except for their car and a turret-like Mobile Sweeper whose gutter broom whispered against the curb.
a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air
From this reading A light here and there in a window heralded the end of sleep.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading The sun seemed reluctant to plunge the world into daylight; it balanced on the horizon in indecision.
